The sky was very busy over the lunch time period. Buzzards, red kite and wait for it - 2 golden eagles. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. I'd see one and then it would disappear but come back over from a different direction, at one point flying directly overhead. I hoped it could be 2 but hardly dare think it possible.
I took a risk and got the camera and lens out, got it on the tripod, and went outside. I got quite a lot of long distance shots and after a while, another eagle came over the trees to join the other. I got a pic of both together and then they split up. None of the photographs are good ones as they were too far away but I might have a couple that could be clear enough to show. My lens is only a 400L so not good enough for that distance. Ok for garden birds but that's all really.
A kite had a go at one of the eagles but didn't stick around long. The buzzards were noticeable in their absence too.
I think I'll get in touch with the eagle project and ask which birds they were. I assume they put trackers on all the birds.
It's not the camera Fairygirl, it's the lens and I'd need to win the lottery to buy a 500 or 600L and then I wouldn't be able to lift the ruddy thing. The good thing though is that I got the camera out, I haven't wanted to do that for a very long time. Not only that I felt quite excited that I did.
Ah - I see. I know nothing about lenses etc. I just need a camera that has a reasonable telephoto lens that's still light enough to carry on walks. I lost the old one [which was definitely smaller and handier] coming off a hill. The new one is better in many ways, but bulkier. Compromises We used to have several folk on the forum who were very techy re cameras, but they don't seem to post now, which is a pity. @Sheps posted some beautiful photos.
That's great that you're wanting to take photos again though. I hope your renewed enthusiasm and patience pays off and you get some pix soon.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It's not the camera Fairygirl, it's the lens and I'd need to win the lottery to buy a 500 or 600L and then I wouldn't be able to lift the ruddy thing. The good thing though is that I got the camera out, I haven't wanted to do that for a very long time. Not only that I felt quite excited that I did.
To be honest you can achieve the same 'reach' as a 500 with one of the new breed of bridge cameras. I used to walk around with a 400 f4 lens bolted onto a Canon DSLR but got fed-up with carrying it. Now I just pack a Canon Powershot SX50 with a built in lens which zooms upto 50x. Tiny thing in comparison and only cost me about £300. It probably won't give you shots which are of publishable quality but is perfectly good enough for web use. This shot was taken about 100 yards away then cropped, so 50x optical zoom plus digital zoom for the crop, so probably 100x total zoom.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Cameras and lenses have come on in leaps and bounds in the past year or two and to be honest, because I lost interest, I haven't kept up with what's available now. I have a Canon 7D and the 400L lens for wildlife photography and the 5D and 24 - 105L for landscape but all of that kit is out of date now. I'd come to the decision that I would put the lot on Ebay in the spring if I couldn't get back my interest. I'll see what transpires in the next week or two.
Edit to say that's a lovely photograph VictorMeldrew
How exciting! Our moment this week was one of the Jays that visits the windowsill for handouts of cashew nuts, doing a very good imitation of a buzzards call. Presumably to scare off some of the competition, mainly magpies and the occasional pigeon.
Last autumn we swapped one of our Bluetit boxes for one with a Gt tit-sized hole as although bluetits started nesting in it every year nothing ever came of it.
We have several Gt tits in the garden this morning and one has been checking out the new box 🤞
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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I took a risk and got the camera and lens out, got it on the tripod, and went outside. I got quite a lot of long distance shots and after a while, another eagle came over the trees to join the other. I got a pic of both together and then they split up. None of the photographs are good ones as they were too far away but I might have a couple that could be clear enough to show. My lens is only a 400L so not good enough for that distance. Ok for garden birds but that's all really.
A kite had a go at one of the eagles but didn't stick around long. The buzzards were noticeable in their absence too.
I think I'll get in touch with the eagle project and ask which birds they were. I assume they put trackers on all the birds.
Now - off you go and buy a better camera...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The good thing though is that I got the camera out, I haven't wanted to do that for a very long time. Not only that I felt quite excited that I did.
We used to have several folk on the forum who were very techy re cameras, but they don't seem to post now, which is a pity. @Sheps posted some beautiful photos.
That's great that you're wanting to take photos again though. I hope your renewed enthusiasm and patience pays off and you get some pix soon.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
To be honest you can achieve the same 'reach' as a 500 with one of the new breed of bridge cameras. I used to walk around with a 400 f4 lens bolted onto a Canon DSLR but got fed-up with carrying it. Now I just pack a Canon Powershot SX50 with a built in lens which zooms upto 50x. Tiny thing in comparison and only cost me about £300. It probably won't give you shots which are of publishable quality but is perfectly good enough for web use. This shot was taken about 100 yards away then cropped, so 50x optical zoom plus digital zoom for the crop, so probably 100x total zoom.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I have a Canon 7D and the 400L lens for wildlife photography and the 5D and 24 - 105L for landscape but all of that kit is out of date now.
I'd come to the decision that I would put the lot on Ebay in the spring if I couldn't get back my interest. I'll see what transpires in the next week or two.
Edit to say that's a lovely photograph VictorMeldrew
We have several Gt tits in the garden this morning and one has been checking out the new box
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.